Combined thimble and knife



(Nd Model.)

W. J. QUINA. UOMBINED THIMBLE AND KNIFE.

No. 544,379. Patented Aug. 13; 1895.

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COMBINED THIMBLE AND KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,379, dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed June 2.1894. Serial No. Eli 3,318. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, WILLIAM JOSEPH QUINA, a citizen of the United States,'residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Thimble and Knife; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in thimbles, and its novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawings; and the objects of my invention are to produce a distributing-thimble to which a blade is attached, and thus conibining a thimble and blade into a useful device. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation. tail showing the ring in section.

The same numerals refer to the same parts in both views.

In the drawings, 1 designates a thimble, which is preferably made of soft rubber or other plastic material, and may be provided with openings 3, to permit a free circulation of air and enable the same to be readily attached or detached. The thimble forms a shield for the thumb, and, by being of a clinging material-such as rubber-4t facilitates the distribution of mail or counting of money by doing away with the sponge-cup. Into the end of the thimble shown by 2 is inserted a metal ring 8, and to which arm at is'connected.

5 is a blade, and 6 are screws for attaching blade 5 to arm 4.

In practice the thimble is placed on end of thumb and an envelope is opened by simply passing the tip 7 of the blade 5 under flap of envelope and cutting same. Where a number of envelopes are tied together in 'a bnndle, as is the case in the various postoffices throughout the country, the work of opening Fig. 2 is a dethe bundles and distributing the letters is facilitated by the use of my combination thimble and knife. The bundle of letters being held in thelcft hand, the string is out by passing the blade under the same, and the letters are then individually distributed by clasping them between the forefinger of the right hand and the outer face of the thimble. This being of plastic material prevents slipping, and also aids in the speedy distribution of letters, &c. The metal ring being on the inside of the thimble avoids all delays, as the corners of the envelopes or cards cannot get caught between the ring and face of the thimble. This device may also be used by persons in place of a pair of scissors where it is desired to cut textile fabrics.

A striking advantage of my invention is its economical construction and ease by which the same may be placed in practical use.

Having described my invention and the manner in which the same is or maybe operated, would say in conclusion that I do not limit myself to the precise details shown in illustration, as the same may be varied to some extent; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein described distributing thimble, the same consisting of a soft rubber thimble, a blade, an arm secured to the same, and a connection between said arm and thimble located wholly within the latter, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein described distributing thimble, the same consisting of a thimble whose outer face isof soft clinging material, a blade, an arm removably secured to the same, and a ring connected with the arm and secured to the thimble wholly within the latter, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 7

WILLIAM J. QUINA. Witnesses:

J AS. BoUReEoIs, THEO. BRUMMER. 

